East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has refuted allegations of sabotage and engaging in unfair business practices against African Originals, a Nairobi-based start-up known for its ‘Kenyan Originals’ range of ciders, gins, and iced teas.
African Originals claimed that EABL, a subsidiary of Diageo, was responsible for the regulatory challenges it has been encountering.
Additionally, the start-up also accused EABL of imitating some of its products and orchestrating social media smear campaigns through influencers who alleged health issues after consuming African Originals’ products.
Moreover, African Originals alleged that EABL employees disparaged its products and encouraged supermarkets not to display them.
However, EABL dismissed these accusations on Monday, labeling them as baseless. The company released a statement asserting that the claims are “false, defamatory, and unsupported by evidence.”
“We do not tolerate such conduct within our organization by any of our third-party partners or employees. Our commitment to ethical business practices and fair competition remains steadfast and is reflected in our strict internal policies governing our interactions with partners, including influencers, who must comply with local laws,” EABL stated.
Furthermore, EABL asserted that it is not linked to any “quality issues” associated with African Originals’ products and urged the KO maker to retract its allegations.
“EABL will vigorously defend its position and take all necessary measures to safeguard its reputation and the trust of our customers, consumers, and all other stakeholders,” the company affirmed.
